Tim Tebow On The Roster Bubble: Chip Kelly To Make Cuts Today

Tim Tebow’s NFL future is on the line today, as Chip Kelly must decide whether to keep the former Heisman winner over former USC standout Matt Barkley or cut them both.

As revealed by NJ.com, head coach Chip Kelly will announce his roster cuts today even though he has until September 5 to do so. And following last night’s impressive performance against the New York Jets in the final preseason game, there are many pundits who feel Tebow has earned himself a roster spot, as reported by the Inquisitr.

Even before last night’s game, Fox Sports’ Jimmy Johnson was hearing positive things from Kelly’s camp on Tebow making the roster.

“I’ve talked to (Eagles head coach) Chip Kelly a few times, and Chip is trying to make it work,” Johnson told Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel. “There may be a spot for Tim on that Philadelphia team… there might be a package for him.”

But he was also quick to point out that to make the team, he’s going to have to improve his accuracy, specifically in the red zone.

“The one knock I hear continually about Tim Tebow from coaches who have coached him in the NFL and players who have played with him: He is very inaccurate. You didn’t see that in college because the coverage is so loose in college, where you don’t have those tight coverages and tight windows… Now at times when we’ve watched Tebow (in the NFL) — and I love watching him play — he would get into a streak and a zone where he could make those pinpoint passes, but for the long haul he’s not a real accurate passer. But maybe he’s improved his accuracy.”

However, last night’s preseason loss to the Jets showcased a much improved Tebow in exactly that area. Late in the second quarter Tim completed consecutive passes to Raheem Mostert for 28 yards and Quron Pratt for 23 yards. Following a sack and a timeout, Tebow fired an 18-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Rasheed Bailey in the back of the end zone.

Still, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Enquirertweeted yesterday, one game is not enough to justify a major roster decision.

Chip Kelly on weighing 1 game vs. whole summer: “it can’t just be a one-game, this-is-it, make or break. This isn’t American Idol.”